Hodgson hungry for a Wallabies jersey
Hodgson hungry for a Wallabies jersey
JUSTIN CHADWICK
April 9, 2010 - 1:54PM
AAP
Western Force flanker Matt Hodgson hopes his standout Super 14 campaign will finally earn him the Wallabies Test cap he so desperately craves.
Hodgson's first stint with the Wallabies ended in misery last June when he injured his shoulder in a non-Test outing against the Barbarians.
The 28-year-old has been a shining light in an otherwise dismal season for the Force, excelling in the No.6 and No.7 jerseys after David Pocock and Richard Brown were cut down by injury in round one.
The trio will be reunited in the starting line-up for Saturday's clash with the Highlanders in Queenstown and Hodgson has targeted a strong finish to the season in order to stay in Wallabies contention for the upcoming international campaign.
"It's a motivation getting so close and playing that Barbarians game and then getting the injury and missing out," Hodgson said.
"Getting on the spring tour but to not get that cap is definitely one of the motivations this year and I'm putting a lot of effort into it.
"I haven't talked to Robbie (Deans) this year, just been concentrating on the Super 14 and the performance of the Force.
"Hopefully that (Wallabies Test cap) comes after the season."
The Force, who have been bolstered by the return of winger Cameron Shepherd, have beaten the Highlanders in their past two meetings but Hodgson said the New Zealander outfit would be tough to beat on their home turf.
"They're similar to us, they've been close in a lot of their battles and fallen away in the back end of games and only just lost," he said.
"Like most New Zealand sides they're tough and physical and hard at the breakdown."
Coach John Mitchell hoped last week's after-the-siren win over the Stormers could start a run of victories for the Force.
"The great confidence that the players can take is that they nailed the game right at the end ... it gives you enormous belief and it's a great deposit finishing a game like that with a play like they did," Mitchell said.
"A win gives you confidence but it doesn't allow you to get away from the detail or allow you to get complacent or accept just that one game is enough.
"It has always been a difficult proposition down in the South Island and you've got to have a mindset that is prepared for a very physical onslaught.
"They (the Highlanders) will never go away so you've really got to earn your wins down there."
Force: James O'Connor, Cameron Shepherd, Mitch Inman, Ryan Cross, Mark Bartholomeusz, David Hill, Chris O'Young, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Matt Hodgson, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Tom Hockings, Tim Fairbrother, Ben Whittaker, Pek Cowan. Res: Nathan Charles, Matt Dunning, Ben McCalman, Sam Wykes, Justin Turner, Sam Harris, Dane Haylett-Petty.
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